cd review
Darren Poyzer - Passion & Conflict
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The epic urban hymn of wide universal appeal that is 'From The Beaches Of Ibiza To The Shores Of Vietnam' closes the album in a rousing, yearning plea against the inequities and general corruption of the world ("from the stoned for their religion to the stoned in Amsterdam / from the rioting disabled people at the bottom of the stairs / to the movers and the shakers in the world of stocks and shares") - an intelligent and witty observationist and tunesmith is Darren Poyzer. The working class vocals, prominent on every song ache for something more "justice must be done" what a song this is.

Rewind back to the rest of the album and you get a whole album of working class and socialist issues such as unemployment, drugs, injustice and equality, politics, boredom, violence and religion. The environmental friendly 'Cuckoo' chirps and jerks with the tweeting violin of Jamie Parkes over the fall of mother nature "blind faith in science - how bizarre!"

The greatest and most solemn football song 'Sunday Morning Footballer' reminds all of us who's turned up after a night on the piss for a game of football in the pouring rain, just how important or pathetic this game really is "he gives his soul to what he calls - the Beautiful Game".

Stepping aside no slide tackle, Mr. Poyzer takes on drug addiction and the like with 'Beautiful Addiction' "how can you make a decision like this, when your head is full of that crazy stuff" or maybe it's a song about being addicted to love, make your own minds up.

The wonderful melody of 'Any Other Day Street' breezes through your subconscious wonderfully and is full of knowledge and regret "seems to me the way ahead is to live and learn".

An amazing songwriter fighting for the cause against the karaoke, the tribute acts, the DJs, the bile of Saturday night 'fun' acts. He is the anti-pop, the working class hero, the great pretender, an amazing talent. Nothing more can be said. Buy this album and see the light.

John Togher
Published by 'Bang Yer 'Ead 'Ere' Fanzine,
Wigan, Greater Manchester UK, August 2002